There is only one way I know how to cope with this kind of disappointment. Bitter, caustic sarcasm.
Hey, I know you are expecting nothing but sky is falling stories for Pitt after the opening game. Well, I found one article that didn’t treat the game as a complete and utter debacle for Pitt.
Oh, wait, they were for the Falcons.
Not receiving much positive news lately, BG decided to create some for itself by dispatching nationally ranked Pittsburgh in the season opener yesterday at Heinz Field. The program’s on-field reputation was restored in a stunning 27-17 win, its first over a ranked opponent in five years.
“That bowl loss lingered,” BG coach Gregg Brandon said of Tulsa’s 56-point cake walk in the GMAC Bowl. “I get asked about that to this day. That’s done – I hope. That’s eight months of getting told we’re no good and we didn’t deserve to be there. To win on the road against a BCS program, I don’t care who it is in our league, it’s big.”
Brandon was understandably fired up. His team was supposed to lose by two touchdowns and was supposed to be too small to compete with the big boys. Basically, it was supposed to be a pay day, where his team gets beat, but his program benefits financially.
“Our kids relish these games,” Brandon said. “They thrive on being the underdogs and going on the road and having people jeering them in the pregame and telling them they can’t do this and they can’t do that. That’s the wrong thing to say to these guys.”
Because of Pitt’s No. 25 ranking, this was technically an upset. But was it really an upset? That will be determined in the upcoming weeks.
Oh, good god, even the pro-BGSU folk are essentially saying “over — {clap, clap} — rated” to Pitt. Unfortunately, there is no way to rebut it at this point.
But, hey, everyone feels bad.
“I can’t tell you how disappointed our football team is considering how much work and effort was put into the start of the season,†Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “I thought our players came out ready to play. But working hard just gives you a chance to win. It doesn’t guarantee anything.â€
A strong crowd of 45,063 were on hand to see what the buzz surrounding the Pitt football program was all about.
And about that sight.
Once and for all, guys, this ain’t the NFL. It isn’t a field-position game, where any drive that ends with a kick is cause for celebration. It’s a scoring contest.
Twice in the first quarter, the Panthers punted from Bowling Green territory — once on fourth-and-7 from the 34; once on fourth-and-5 from the 35.
Wannstedt said he considered going for it both times but chose to punt because “we were playing the field-position game.”
That’s nice, but I’m guessing a lot of those first-time visitors to Heinz Field — the ones with the cut-rate season-ticket vouchers in their hands — were there to see a football game, not a field-position game.
So, um, is there any way to spin this positive?
Skulking away from a crypt of a locker room in their gray T-shirts with PROVE IT printed on the back, the Pitt Panthers had to marvel at what a short road it is from high expectations to low comedy.
In the moments after their humiliating, season-opening loss to Bowling Green of the Mac & Cheese Conference yesterday, a handful of standard issue explanations were proffered by Pitt coach Hot Seat Dave Wannstedt, but there was no point in oversimplifying anything.
Pitt stinks.
It’s not even September and already this team needs a new slogan for its laundry: DISPROVE IT.
I’m going to take that as a no.
Well, it’s symbolic of a new era at least.
The beginning of the end of the Dave Wannstedt era at Pitt may have taken place this afternoon at Heinz Field as Mid-American Conference opponent Bowling Green upset No. 25 Pitt, 27-17, before a crowd of 45,063.
Hmm. Maybe I should rephrase that. You know at least the coaching staff has changed the way they do things.
Boos rained on the Panthers as they left the field because Wannstedt and offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh let most of the final 30 seconds run off the clock while playing for that field goal rather than going for a touchdown.
“We felt like we wanted points and we wanted to go in and feel good about it,” Wannstedt said. “We didn’t want to take a chance for a sack and we didn’t want to take a chance on a turnover, and I think any time you are in that situation and you have a chance to get three points you take the three points because, if you take a chance and throw a pass and it gets deflected or you turn it over or you take a sack, now you are not giving your team a chance to win.
“That was my thinking.”
Wait, the coaching staff was thinking?
“We felt like we were doing what we had to do to win the game,” said Wannstedt, who twice elected to punt from Bowling Green’s 35 in the first quarter. “Then, we made some mistakes. They gave us some unusual formations, which we knew they would do. We had a tough time adjusting. That was the difference in the game.”
The coaches knew they were going to change things up, but despite knowing about it couldn’t adjust to it. Apparently thinking means something different for the Pitt coaching staff than most normal people.
But you know, at least Coach Wannstedt is ready to acknowledge that the preparation was a problem and that the buck stops with him.
“I thought right before half that fumble really hurt us,” Wannstedt said. “Instead of being up, they got the ball back and scored to tie the game.”
Even a potential turnover hindered Pitt’s scoring output. With 34 seconds left in the first half, Pitt was facing third-and-9 from the Bowling Green 19-yard line.
Wannstedt elected to let the clock run down to 3 seconds and attempt a field goal rather than try for either a first down or a touchdown. He said after the game he wanted to come away with at least some points rather than commit a turnover or give up a sack.
Early in the fourth quarter, Cedric McGee tried to stretch out extra yardage after a catch early in the fourth quarter, but Kenny Lewis ripped the ball out and recovered the fumble. Lewis picked up the ball and returned it 65 yards for an apparent touchdown, but officials said the whistle had blown.
Pitt stopped the Falcons on the drive and regained possession on the ensuing punt,but Antonio Smith sacked Bill Stull and forced a fumble which Angelo Magnone recovered.
Two plays later, Tyler Sheehan sauntered untouched into the end zone on a quarterback keeper to give Bowling Green the lead for good.
“It was Bill Stull’s first full game and he was put in some bad situations,” Wannstedt said. “His inexperience showed some today and there’s not anything anybody can do about that.”
Oh. Yeah. Coaching. Game prep. Adjustments. Totally irrelevant. Nothing that could be done.
F is for Fifty-one. The number of pass attempts by Bill Stull, Pitt QB, in the loss to Bowling Green. LeSean McCoy looked bad in the second quarter, but of all the damning accusations to hurl Pitt’s way, the abandonment of the run in a tight game might be worst. Or, alternately, you could say this: Dave Wannstedt is your coach, and when you’re facing a crucial 3rd and 2, he will call a pass play, which will be incomplete, and then punt.
And you know the media is not backing away from actually believing things are different.
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Well, at least it takes the pressure off of the rest of the season.
Can Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt blow it in the first week? The Panthers, a popular choice to be one of the most improved teams in the country, trailed Bowling Green 20-17 going into the fourth quarter. The Falcons are the favorites to win the MAC East. I expected Pitt’s defense to struggle against Bowling Green’s spread offense, especially after defensive coordinator Paul Rhoades left for Auburn. But the Falcons only had 245 yards of offense in the first three quarters. Pitt’s offense only mustered 290 yards offense, with star tailback LeSean McCoy gaining only 55 yards on his first 20 carries.
At least next week?
At Pittsburgh, the Panthers lost to Bowling Green 27-17 after spotting the Falcons a 14-0 lead. It is the Panthers’ ninth upset loss in coach Dave Wannstedt’s four seasons. Pitt’s game Saturday against Buffalo, like Bowling Green a contender in the Mid-American Conference, carries more import than it did before Saturday.
Thank goodness, Coach Wannstedt thrives under pressure. Why look how he had the team ready to meet the pressure and expectations to start the seas– oh, wait.
Well, at least Pitt still can say they didn’t truly dash expectations, hopes and dreams the way Clemson had theirs dashed.
How bad was it? Let’s just say Tommy Bowden wishes he were Rich Rodriguez or Dave Wannstedt right now.
Well, actually I’ll take that bet. Tommy’s got $2 million per and at least he’s likely to win more games than losing this year.
The Harrisburg paper’s headline for Pitt
was: “Pitt-iful” That about sums it up.
1. You have to win your individual battles up front on both lines….we didn’t all day!
2. Your opponent has to also want to play smash mouth…..BG did in the first quarter and was down 14-0, then did the wise thing and changed the game…trick plays, overloads, mismatches et al and thouroughly outplayed the poorly coached and prepared Panthers.
1. You have to block.
2. You have to tackle.
The Pitt guys were coached to do this. They didn’t and BG did.
You can’t expect Wanny to hold the ball in McCoy’s hands for him or Cav to catch the ball for the receiver’s. I’m sure Wanny would like to help our RT block, but the refs just won’t allow it.
and were 8-4. They were never going to be an easy game for Pitt. We are new on the O line and at safey…the two worst postions to be new at with a spread team. Can find no excuses other than that.
However, I remember another Pitt coach who constantly said, “I coached em right, they just didn’t play the way I coached”. I think he is the O coordinator at Fox Chapel HS now…WHarris anyone?
Pederson did not comment or return calls and I understand he is very pissed at DW and the staff.
How about this for a solution?…after we lose to Buffalo we have 2 weeks to prep for Iowa. Fire Wanny and Cav….move Bennet to head coach (he will be better in his second tour)bring in Foge to coach the D and Walt Harris the O. Then do what you have to after the season….
How can it be any worse??
The coaches inserted just about every talented player they had searching for answers, and nobody stepped up.
Does anyone really believe that these players will play better for Bennet or any other head coach? Will changing coaches, help McCoy hold on to the ball or the recievers to make catches? Does anyone believe that the players are f–king up because they don’t like Wanny’s stache.
“Cav rang up 393 yards in total offense. How is that horrible? Turnovers cost us the game.”
393 yards in total offense isn’t bad – in the NFL. If Pitt is a supposed top 25 team, they should be passing for nearly 300 yards and with RB’s like LSH and your presidential candidate Shady, running for well over 200 yards against teams from the MAC.
While I agree recruiting class rankings are objective at best, the talent level we have on this team rivals that of most upper echelon programs. Why aren’t we getting the most out of these athletes and why aren’t we exploiting those who are under- or un-used.
The subject matter of your posts makes you a clear apologist and Cav supporter – something I find hard to believe considering the history of Cav. You might be the only one on the Cav ship these days, I guess he needs someone there with him.
I think the D came out strong in this game. The offense disgusts me. Think back to 13-9: the offense was PATHETIC in that game as well. Shady is to DW what Fitz was to Wlat – the workhorse that each coach hopes to ride to the promised land. Thing is, a guy like Fitz could outrun the defenders and adjust to the throw. Teams knew it was coming but couldn’t cover him. Teams also know Shady is coming, but when he runs straight up the middle (not his fault) and his OL can’t block to save their life (also not his fault) the plan fails.
Against Buffalo Pitt fans better hope to see (1) balls thrown more than 10 yards downfield, (2) Shady and LSH running outside, (3) the right side of the OL giving whoever has the ball enough time to think. (1) and (2) are COACHING concerns, (3) is half coaching / half players.
As for the defense, Pitt needs to play at the level they started the BGSU game with. They came out swarming and made some great plays, great tackles. Somewhere along the line they lost their steam. The D should operate independent of the O in that it plays hard notwithstanding the score from kickoff to the end of the game. If the D hadn’t settled down, the outcome may have been different and Cavanaugh may have eeked out a win with a conservative and terrible offensive gameplan. Part of me is glad we lost, I have been sick of Cav’s playcalling since he got here. Zero imagination. It puts me to sleep faster than Nyquil.
At least now the heat is up on Cav, maybe we will see some fireworks next week? But the D better play strong from start to finish next week and from here on out. Earn your scholarships.
Wanny has been there 4 years and recruited his type of player!! but hey give him some more time!! Ha, until the end of time, the guy is a horrible head coach (see dolphins, bears)
Sorry VP-Shady, Wanny is the fool, we will be lucky to finish 4-8 this year, BGSU is a well coached and well prepared team, Pitt has far more talent on their team; the clock has struck midnight, Wanny is the fool!
Buffalo might beat them, if that happens I expect to see a 2-9 season.
there will be fireworks,… I guarantee it! its fireworks night, I saw it advertised at the stadium.
As far as Cav is concerned I don’t think I his apologist. Pitt had a game plan good enough to win; the kids just executed it badly. Yeah it was plain vanilla and simple, designed that way because of the lack of experience of the QB, O-line, etc. You assume that if we ran the run-and-shoot, west coast, or some other offense the outcome would be better. It would be worse. If they can’t execute simple, they can’t execute something more intricate and complex. The coaches prepared and planned, the kids played badly.
If you want entertainment, watch the half-time show. The purpose of the offense is to score points not entertain the fans; otherwise replace the team with Cirque de Soleil? If we scored enough, you wouldn’t be bored or care what the offense was running.
The defense leaked like a sieve, the D-line stood and watched as BG looped floaters over their heads. It seemed like every BG screen pass worked.
This is Wanny’s fourth year and it or the season is not over yet. I personally would like to see Wanny coach his first recruiting class as seniors. Then if things don’t improve dump him, I’m in.
If Buffalo beats them, who can they possibly beat to get the 2 wins?
Wrong guy, I know but, who ever has a bad game that day.
The yardage argument is the same bullshit argument Seahawks fans made after Super Bowl XL. Maybe football should be a yardage contest- is that a better gauge of a football team than actually putting the ball in the end zone?
link to pittsburghlive.com
that Wannstedt is in danger of losing support athletic director and team, Kevin Gorman then reports “Pederson shows support for Wannstedt.â€
link to pittsburghlive.com
Scoring points is more entertaining that yardage hehe. I mean you can score via defense and special teams as well.
I do agree though, that yardage can be overrated. Just like shots on goal in hockey and base hits in baseball. Those are usually good. But, don’t always add up to goals or runs.
But, when you have a 14-0 lead at home. And, get outscored 27-3 the rest of the way. The yardage in that game is very overrated. After 14-0. Pitt did practically nothing when it came to scoring. Which as you said is the main point of the offense. Which means they were extremely ineffective after their early lead.
As for the D, I think they were solid, they need to improve, but they gave the team a chance to win. Unfortunately, the coaches didn’t.
Wow, i like the koolaid too…but its time to put it down.
Is villanova 1-0 and wvu 0-1 cause “nova outgained wvu”? That’s the dumbest thing i’ve ever heard. Did you go to the game? Watch it?
Runs up the middle on first and second down, when they were bringing all 3 linebackers every play knowing A) our RB would run right into them or B) our QB would stand there with the ball like a dumbass…
Punts from the 35…
Taking a knee at halftime to kick a FG on 3rd down…
The problems is KIDS MAKE FUCKING MISTAKES. ITS PART OF FOOTBALL. And when your gameplan leave NO ROOM FOR ERROR, you’re GOING TO FUCKING LOSE.
In college, if you play not to lose, you’re DEFINITELY going to lose. Our offensive coaching staff is still stuck in the NFL, no matter what they said to the press this summer. You HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES.
And nothing is going to change until they get their heads our of the ass, or their ass kicked out the door. It is what it is.
The RBs were bouncing the runs to the outside in the beginning, but BG stopped that. The runs were going up the middle because the BG defense was funneling the plays into the middle – per the BG HC, and they were blitzing virtually every play.
Yeah Stull threw deep a couple of times nowhere near the intended receiver. His long balls have too much air under them. It takes too long to get to the receiver, allowing the defender the chance to recover. Only four sacks in 51 throws, isn’t that four too many. How many rushed throws and dump offs did the defensive pressure cause?
“The problem is that kids make mistakes†– There was plenty of room in the game plan to let the kids make some mistakes, but they just made too many of them. Advocating that we should keep gambling every play is to totally throw the game away.
Anyway, isn’t it about time we focus on next week’s game?
Go Pitt.
While you shouldn’t be gambling every play, the gameplan was entirely too conservative. I think shadyforpresident is now the only person who doesn’t see this point.
BBall, I think you’re right, I’m the only one that doesn’t. Time to shut up now.
Go Pitt
You’re making pathetic excuses for our coaching staff. All summer i had to read this crap about:
– Greg Cross package
– Wildcat
– “the forward pass”
– “our offense was 2nd best ever at pitt 2 yrs ago”
– “we WILL find ways to throw the ball down the field”
– “have TEs that can stretch the field”
– among other bullshit
What we got was run up the middle on first and second down, and punts at their 30. I was there. We booed the shit out of the coaches when it was clear they couldn’t get their heads out of their asses. The reason BG could stuff the run game after the first few is because they realized all the talking points that our coaches gave to the media were bullshit. They brought all the LBs and put the safties 5 yds off the line…cause they KNEW we weren’t going deep.
It was the most godawful playcalling i’ve ever seen. No accountiblity on people like Turner who dropped half the balls thrown his way (not that 5yds when we needed 8 or 10 would have mattered anyways…)
It was just pathetic, and the coaches and the fans need to wake up. We have 10-2 talent that they’re coaching to 5-7.
I’d rather lose having left pages 2-100 on the field, instead of sticking to the Tecmo Bowl playbook we used instead.
You know who left it on the field? Bowling Green. They weren’t afraid of their players screwing up, even with the QB threw one pick (and two others that we dropped), along with fumbling/recovering their own fumble twice. They didn’t run off tackle every single play the rest of the game. They brought out every trickeration/package/gamble they could come up with and took it to us.
We curled up like a fetus. Disgusting.
Their coach said they were going to dare us to pass. This is what we did to WVU last year. And we shit the bed, just like WVU. You’d think our coaches would have realized what was happening…
its as if the coaching staff operates in a vacuum and refuses to take note of or adjust to what is actually occuring.
the lack of personnel substitutions, offensive ingenuity, defensive aggressiveness…and most importantly…the LACK OF URGENCY TO WIN is just stupifying.
i feel like i should repay the people i talked into purchasing season tickets. the goodwill and positive vibes post 13-9 are GONE. b y e – b y e.
prove it??? coach dave and staff (esp cav) need to PROVE they want to WIN and put the talent in position to succeed.
i think steve pederson should offer refunds for the rest of the season to any season ticket holder for the cost of tickets for any home loss. and then take the refund out of the coaching salaries. maybe then the staff would understand the URGENCY OF WINNING.